snowdrop | 최범규

9 | gardenias.

                                      D - 65

Lavender walked alongside the sidewalk alone today. Beomgyu told her he would spend today finally unpacking important things in his apartment. she smiled and understood, walking home to get some rest. it had only been two pm, but she felt bored and rather lonely now that he was gone.

she took a seat inside the flower shop. her grandmother had been out of town for quite some time now. she told Lavender to watch the store since she would be back in town soon.

she took a seat at one of the tables and pulled out her sketchbook. they hadn't gotten many customers lately, it was quite saddening to see such an empty store. she sketched whatever was on her mind away in the book.

until she heard a chime from the door. without looking back, she went to the cash register and sketched there, in case the customer would want to buy anything.

"welcome to the shop!" she smiled, the customer turning his head. though he was wearing a mask, he looked rather young. his hair was a blonde pigment, his facial features rather large but absolutely beautiful. he was so breathtaking, but why did he look so familiar? "let me know if you need help finding anything."

"thank you." he said.

his voice felt so deep and poetic. his words were enunciated perfectly, but why was that enunciation so familiar?

Lavender sketched the boy's frame out on her sketchbook, hopefully jogging her memory somehow. his jean jacket under his puffed winter coat, or his black jeans. nothing struck her memory. she immediately closed her sketchbook as the young boy walked over to her with a bunch of gardenias.

Lavender smiled and placed the five or so flowers in a flower bag, grabbing a string of ribbon to tie upon the bottom stems of the flowers.

the boy's eyes travelled her face, as if he knew her. his eyes led to her name tag, a given. "Lavender?" he clasped his hand on his mouth. he took off his mask, giving away exactly who he was.

"Taehyun!" she hopped out from her cashier seat and took off her apron, wrapping her arms around the boy's frame. "i knew you looked familiar but i couldn't place my finger on it!" she exclaimed.

"it's been too long!" he smiled, pulling back from the hug. she gave him his flowers and led him to a table to sit at. "how's your grandmother been, i haven't seen her ever since we were kids!" he smiled, a warm, genuine smile. he missed his childhood best friend.

"she's out of town right now, but i bet she would've loved to see you." she smiled.

he placed a hand on his chin. "i'm not too sure about that." following his laughter. "we trashed her house every time we came in with snow on our clothes!"

"remember that time you slipped on the snow?"

"hey, let's not bring back bad memories!" he joked, both of them in a laughter fest.

"how come i haven't seen you around? i would've remembered you instantly, especially without the mask."

"i only recently moved here from the city! i missed how it was like, especially you." he squeezed the girl's cheek and smiled again. "my father came with me, by the way! i told him i was coming to the flower shop and he told me to say hello to your grandmother."

"oh, i would love to see him again!" she cupped her face in joy. "are you here permanently then?"

"supposedly!" he exclaimed.

Lavender couldn't help but stare at the boy she missed for years now. his eyes were exactly the same, yet he grew up so much. she was so glad to be reunited with her best friend after so long.

"i always tried to reach you with letters but i never knew if you received them." he pouted.

"i sadly don't live with my father anymore." she said with a solemn face. "he's always overseas, traveling and such."

"oh, i see." he smiled to bring up her mood. "but your grandmother is a blast! now you can have her baked goods all the time!"

Lavender smiled. she didn't realize how much she missed this boy. its been too long.

"you've got to introduce me to your new friends!" he
smiled. "or lovers~" he poked her shoulder, receiving a light punch from the girl.

"no, there's nobody." Taehyun gave her an eyebrow raise. "okay, maybe there's somebody." she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. he took her hands into his. "tell me everything!"

"he just moved here, he definitely doesn't feel the same way i do." she looked down at the table.

"you don't know that. besides, if the timings right, you guys could be perfect!" he smiled and let her hands go.

"well, what about you?"

he leaned back in his chair and looked at the girl. "i sadly have no luck with girls." he tilted his head and looked to the side. "actually, i haven't bothered trying."

"well how come?" she pouted. "you're smart, loyal, plus you're an amazing singer. you could land anybody."

because i still like you.

he wanted to say it, he really did. but she seemed contempt with the boy she liked and he only wanted to see her happy. he asked her if she had a lover so he could know whether or not he had a chance. since her heart is taken, head over heels for this boy, he decided to cheer for her instead.

he didn't think he still liked her. but somehow, everything felt so right the moment he walked into the flower shop. he knew the reason why he never accepted any of the confessions was because he was never over his first love. yes, it was young love but not anymore.

he didn't still love her, right?

no, he couldn't. she loves another. he clutched his gardenias tight in his hands.

"i hate to ruin the mood, but my dad's going to be confused why i've been gone for so long." he stood up and pulled in his chair. "do you want to meet again tomorrow?"

"i'd love to." she gave him another embrace, shattering Taehyun's heart. "i'll see you tomorrow, same time?" she asked and received a nod from a blonde haired boy.

he held out his pinky and so did she, a thing they had done ever since they were children.

"love ya!"

"bye, Lav!" he waved and gave mockery finger hearts, retrieving a giggle from the girl.

as soon as he was far enough from view, he stood on the sidewalk with this face in his hands as snow fell upon him.

i love you too.

but it's not the same way.